A PAIR of cycling solicitors are getting on their bikes as part of a North-East business drive.

Tom Craven and Helen Roberts are both keen cyclists who regularly cover hundreds of miles in their spare time.

The pair are the latest recruits to join Hewitts Solicitors, a leading law firm with offices covering County Durham, the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire, as part of an expansion of the firm's commercial property team.

Tom is a member of the Moonglu cycling club, based in his home town of Ripon, and recently tackled the route of the Grand Depart, the first stage of this year’s Tour de France.

“After 120 miles I have to confess that I had a few aches,” he adds. “The hills were a lot steeper than they looked, but it was still a fantastic ride.”

His job is to advise clients on commercial transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, new developments, joint ventures, land sales and leases.

He said: “The North-East offers massive scope for job creation and regeneration. One of the greatest attractions of working in County Durham is the variety it offers – the region has a tremendous mix; everything from shopping centres to wind farms.”

Tom has joined the commercial property team at Hewitts, in Bishop Auckland, where he will be working alongside Helen, 43, from Barnard Castle.

A mountain bike fan, Helen has been training for a duathlon - a gruelling 7k trail run followed by a 20k mountain bike ride and finishing off with another 6k trail run.

She says: “I did the Kielder duathlon in 2012 – it was hard but an incredible adrenalin rush.”

A marathon runner, Helen is also hoping to compete in the London marathon next year.